2018-06-11 REF Operational Guidelines

The Governing Board has to approve:
• Strategy and business plan;
• REF Operational Guidelines;
• REF Network’s key policies such as:
o Gender policy
o Conflict of interest policy
o Data protection policy
o Monitoring and evaluation manual
o Financial manual
o Communications strategy
o Child protection policy
o Risk management framework
o Other operational manuals and guidelines that may be designated as key
policies by the Governing Board
• Financial issues
o REF’s annual budgets and programs (until end of November before the next
financial year);
o Resource reallocations within REF Network
o Major capital investment decisions such as
§ Establishment of new REF Network Entities,
§ making major capital investment in the infrastructure of REF Network
Entities
o Taking loans (borrowing) from third parties
o Giving reimbursable grants to third parties - Implementation Partners
o Internal financing arrangements
o Appointment of REF Switzerland auditor, prior approval of appointment of REF
Network Entity auditors
o REF Entities’ annual financial audits
• Legal issues
o Litigations of strategic importance
• Operational Issues
o Projects and programs
o Annual reports of REF Network and REF Network Entities.
o Approval of board meeting minutes (such approval to be sought either by email
or at the subsequent board meeting, minutes to be signed by the chair and the
Executive Director)
Two designated members of the Governing Board must periodically approve the expenses
incurred by the Executive Director.
The composition, operations and by-laws of the Governing Board are regulated by the
Operational Manual of the Governing Board in detail. The REF Headquarters acts as secretariat
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